Dunbar - East Lothian
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Dunbar Golf Club
East Links, Dunbar
Secretary: Liz Thom
Tel: + 44 (0) 1368 862317

Old Tom Morris (1821-1908)
© Worldsport UK

Muirfield Clubhouse
© Digitalsport UK

Dunbar East Links
By Douglas Seaton
Dunbar Factfile

THE DUNBAR GOLF COURSE is laid out on the land where Oliver Cromwell's army camped prior to the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. It is known that golf was played in the Dunbar area at least as early as the beginning of the 17th century.

Records reveal that a hundred years before Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated at Culloden, the Assistant Minister at Dunbar was disgraced for playing at gouff. It is also documented a quarter of a century earlier that two men from the neighbouring parish of Tyninghame were censured by the Kirk Session for playing gouff on the Lord's Day in 1616.

In 1794, a group of gentlemen with strong masonic ties formed Dunbar Golfing Society which played at Westbarns but support declined over the years. The only remaining documents from that Society are the Rules and Regulations dated 14th May of that year. In 1856, following a meeting in the Town Hall, Dunbar Golf Club was founded and started to play over the present course, part of the Duke of Roxburghe's estate.

Booking: Tel 01368 862317 Fax 01368 865202

4th Green on Musselburgh Links
© Digitalsport UK

Jacky Montgomerie
Golf Professional
East Links, Dunbar
Tel: 01368 862086

East Course, North Berwick
© Digitalsport UK

The original 15 holes were designed by Old Tom Morris. with an additional 3 holes added in 1880. During this period Morris was in great demand, not only playing in Challenge Matches, but as a house guest of the East Lothian gentry.

He was considered to be the first golf architect, charging one pound sterling per day plus travelling expenses. Many of our great courses were laid out by Tom Morris, including the scene of his Open triumphs at Prestwick and Muirfield.

An extract from the Dunbar Golf Club minutes of 1859 gives an insight into the duties of the greenkeeper at that time. 'The green must be swept and cleaned every Wednesday and Saturday. All molehills kept flat where possible. He must be on duty during all Medal days and when the tent has to be erected he must be out.' One interesting Bye-Law from the turn of the century reads. 'The official at the burn is authorised by the Committee to charge all players one penny for each ball recovered from the water.'

Course Record Pro 64: Russell Weir Am 66: J. Grant, 1989

The Dunbar Ladies Golf Club was instituted in the Mason's Hall in 1894. Originally the ladies competitions were played over 12 holes, using the first six and last six of the 18 hole course. The original clubhouse was the cottage now known as Beachcote and the existing clubhouse was constructed in 1900 with oil lighting.

Prior to the formation, ladies had for many years played golf over the East Links. In 1871, there was an article in the local newspaper from a bachelor offering himself as a prize for the winner of the Ladies Competition ' provided she be young and pretty.'

This was followed by a letter from a young Edinburgh lady, coming to Dunbar for a holiday, intimating she would be a competitor and hoped that she might be considered. Over the years the Dunbar Ladies Golf Club has hosted the Scottish Ladies Championship, British Girls and Scottish Girls Tournament.

Dunbar East Links, situated on the estuary of the Firth of Forth, is a combination of links and inland turf, laid out on a narrow stretch of land which follows the natural contours of the coastline. The main features include the Old Deer Park wall running the length of the course, Barns Ness lighthouse at the 9th, the ruined building known as 'The Vaults' at the 14th, and a number of square shaped greens. The 9th through 12th are the most testing holes but the closing stretch with the rocky beach ready to accept the mildest of slices can also ruin a good score.

Robert Auld was appointed professional in 1902 which coincided with the expansion of the course into another 32 acres of the Deer Park, a task completed in early 1905. Robert Auld was born in North Berwick in 1875, he was a scratch medalist of the Bass Rock Golf Club and in 1901 was selected to play in the Wemyss Country Cup team. Robert Auld apprenticed as a club maker before joining the professional ranks. He remained at Dunbar G.C until 1938 at which time his retiral was marked by an entry in the minutes that he 'had been Professional and Clubmaster since 1902, recognised as an outstanding maker of clubs and in his long association with the Club had given loyal and faithful service in the duties which were entrusted to him'. Some fine examples of his club making still exist, stamped with Rt Auld.

The course measures 6426 yards S.S.S. 71 and has hosted many tournaments including the Scottish Amateur Championship, Scottish Professional and the Scottish Boys' Championship. Among the previous winners of the Scottish Boys' was Ewan Murray (1971) and Andrew Coltart (1987).